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Biomedical subjects

C Hubinont

Publications and source records attributed to C Hubinont.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fetofetal transfusion syndrome: do the neonatal criteria apply in utero?

Thirteen fetuses (five twin, one triplet) were compromised by fetofetal transfusion syndrome in six pregnancies, five in the mid trimester, and one in the third trimester. This diagnosis, which was suspected because of ultrasound findings of discordant growth, discordant amniotic fluid volumes, concordant external genitalia, and monochorial placentation, was confirmed postnatally in each. Nine fetuses underwent blood sampling to aid diagnosis and assessment of fetal wellbeing. In contrast to fetofetal transfusion syndrome investigated postnatally, a difference in haemoglobin concentration of 50 g/l or more in utero was found in only one pregnancy, which was near term, although all had fetal erythroblastaemia and a difference in weight of 20% or more. In vivo confirmation of shared circulation was achieved in two pregnancies by transfusing adult Rh negative red cells into the smaller fetus and then detecting them by Kleihauer testing in blood aspirated from the larger. Invasive procedures also yielded information on fetal blood gas measurements (acidaemia in four and hypoxaemia in six) and amniotic pressure (raised in two). We suggest that comparison of haemoglobin concentrations is inaccurate in fetofetal transfusion syndrome in utero, the diagnosis of which may necessitate detection of a shared circulation using a marker such as adult red cells.

Adult↗

Visualization of fetal intra-abdominal organs in second-trimester severe oligohydramnios by intraperitoneal infusion.

Fetal intraperitoneal infusion of saline was performed in two patients with severe oligohydramnios at 24 and 25 weeks' gestation in order to enhance visualization of intra-abdominal organs. Renal agenesis was easily diagnosed. The technique can be considered as an alternative to artificial instillation of amniotic fluid in the differential diagnosis of conditions associated with severe oligohydramnios.

Abdomen↗

Intrauterine manometry: technique and application to fetal pathology.

A technique is described for measuring pressure within the amniotic cavity and within fetal vessels and/or body compartments. Two saline-filled catheters were connected at one end to needles inserted during indicated invasive procedures and at the other to silicon strain gauge transducers. In 36 pregnancies with normal liquor volume, stable intra-amniotic pressure (IAP, range 1-14 mmHg) increased with gestation (r = 0.48, p less than 0.01). In pregnancies complicated by severe oligohydramnios, IAP was less than or equal to 1 mm Hg and rose to normal levels with saline amnioinfusion. Raised IAP (range 17-26 mm Hg), found in pregnancies with gross polyhydramnios, fell with drainage of amniotic fluid. Subtraction manometry was used to determine supra-amniotic pressure within the intervillus space, umbilical vein, umbilical artery, abdominal and thoracic cavities, and the urinary tract in normal and/or pathological fetuses. Low intravesical and intrapelvicalyceal pressures (median 6.5, range 2-10 mm Hg) were noted in fetuses with obstructive uropathies. Intrauterine subtraction manometry appears to be a useful tool in the understanding of fetal pathophysiology and may be of clinical benefit in the therapeutic drainage and infusion of amniotic fluid and in the assessment of certain fetal disease states.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Fetal hyperinsulinism in anencephaly.

Insulin was measured in the blood collected in utero from three midtrimester anencephalic fetuses. The hyperinsulinism found could be due to an underutilization of glucose in the absence of most of the brain and could be responsible for the relatively normal growth in anencephaly despite the absence of the hypothalamohypophysial axis.

Anencephaly↗

Maternal-fetal glucose gradient in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by alloimmunization and fetal growth retardation.

Maternal and fetal glucose concentrations were measured simultaneously in 54 pregnancies in which fetal blood sampling was conducted between 18 and 34 weeks gestation. Twenty-five pregnancies were normal (group 1), 13 were complicated by fetomaternal alloimmunization (group 2), and 16 by intrauterine growth retardation (group 3). The maternal glucose concentration was similar in the three groups. The fetal glucose level was significantly lower in growth-retarded (mean = 2.7 mmol/L) than in normal pregnancies (mean = 3.5 mmol/L). There was a statistically significant gradient between maternal and fetal glucose concentrations in groups 1 and 3, but no gradient was found in group 2. Maternal and fetal glucose concentrations were significantly correlated in all groups, but the correlations were distinct. For a given maternal glucose concentration, fetal glucose was higher in patients with alloimmunization and lower in patients with intrauterine growth retardation than in normal pregnancies. In patients with intrauterine growth retardation, fetal PO2 correlated positively with fetal glucose and inversely with maternal fetal glucose gradient.

Blood Glucose↗

The fetal intrahepatic umbilical vein as an alternative to cord needling for prenatal diagnosis and therapy.

Seventy-one fetal blood samplings (FBS) were attempted from the intrahepatic portion of the umbilical vein (IHV) at 18-34 weeks; 54 were attempted primarily and 17 secondarily after a failed attempt at the placental cord insertion. Fetal blood was obtained in 89 per cent of the cases. Intravascular transfusion (IVT) was attempted on 31 occasions and successful in 24 (77 per cent). In all cases of failed sampling or transfusion via the IHV, prenatal diagnosis and/or therapy was accomplished using alternative procedures. On only one occasion was the procedure postponed. There were no losses or neonatal morbidity attributable to the procedure. FBS from the IHV may be considered as an alternative approach to sampling the placental cord insertion. It is recommended in cases where the approach to the placental cord insertion is difficult or hazardous.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

Changes in fetal acid base status during intravascular transfusion.

Umbilical venous pH, PCO2, PO2, and base excess was measured immediately before and after 72 intravascular transfusions in 34 fetuses with erythroblastosis fetalis. In 67 uncomplicated transfusions, infused adult blood led to a mean (95% confidence intervals) fall in pH (0.037, CI 0.029 to 0.044) and base excess (2.03, CI 1.61 to 2.45) and a mean rise in PCO2 (0.24 kPa, CI 0.13 to 0.35). These changes correlated significantly with the increase in fetal haemoglobin and packed cell volume. Five transfusions were associated with complications within six hours: intrauterine death in two, fetal-distress necessitating delivery in two, and preterm labour in one. Two had pre-existing acidosis, whereas two of the three with normal blood gas and acid base measurements before transfusion had acute changes that were outside the normal ranges that had been established in uncomplicated transfusions.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Impairment of insulin release by methylation inhibitors.

The possible participation of enzymatic methylation reactions in the process of insulin release was investigated in rat pancreatic islets. The combination of 3-deazaadenosine and DL-homocysteine impaired the incorporation of 3H-methyl from L-[methyl-3H]methionine into endogenous islet proteins and phospholipids, but failed to affect turnover in the phosphatidylinositol cycle. The inhibitors of methylation decreased insulin release evoked by D-glucose or the combinations of D-glucose and gliclazide, L-leucine and L-glutamine, or Ba2+ and theophylline. The inhibitors of methylation did not impair either the oxidation of D-glucose or affect its capacity to decrease K+ conductance, stimulate Ca2+ inflow and provoke 45Ca accumulation in pancreatic islets. It is proposed that, in the process of insulin secretion, a methyl acceptor protein and/or phospholipid play(s) a limited modulatory role in the coupling of cytosolic Ca2+ accumulation to exocytosis.

Animals↗

Sorbitol content of plasma and erythrocytes during induced short-term hyperglycemia.

Plasma glucose concentration was increased from a mean basal value of 3.3 +/- 0.1 to 13.3 +/- 1.5 mmol/L by the intravenous administration of glucose for 60 minutes to four healthy volunteers. The sorbitol content of erythrocytes was increased during the period of hyperglycemia from a mean basal value of 65 +/- 9 to 106 -/+ 6 mumol/L. The plasma sorbitol concentration remained constant at 12 +/- 1 mumol/L. This dissociated response indicates that the plasma concentration of sorbitol is not significantly affected by a short-term hyperglycemia sufficient to cause intracellular sorbitol accumulation.

Adult↗

Anticytomegalovirus IgG avidity in pregnancy: a 2-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the practical use of the anticytomegalovirus IgG avidity and its impact on the follow-up of pregnancy. To evaluate the performance of IgG avidity to exclude the risk of congenital infection. METHODS: 409 IgM-positive women without a documented seroconversion were prospectively followed. Data concerning the follow-up of the pregnancies were collected (amniotic fluid puncture and samples from the offspring). These observations were compared to those of 76 seroconversions during the same period. RESULTS: High avidity excluding a primary infection within the past 3 months was observed in 270 women. As the gestational age was less than 3 months for 121 women, exclusion of a primary infection was achieved in 30% of the cases. The rate of amniotic fluid puncture was influenced by the serological result: high avidity (9%), low avidity (42%) and seroconversion (65%). CONCLUSIONS: A high avidity index during the first trimester of pregnancy could reasonably be considered as a good indicator of past infection and invasive prenatal diagnosis is not necessary. Nearly 70% of the IgM-positive women could be reassured if the first serology was systematically performed before 12 weeks of gestation.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Carbohydrate metabolism in fetuses with Rh alloimmunization.

Glucose, insulin, glucagon and fructosamine were measured in the plasma of control (n = 34) and of Rh fetuses (n = 22) before the first and subsequent transfusion. Prior to treatment, Rh fetuses, compared to controls, had raised concentrations of glucose (p = 0.01), glucagon (p = 0.04) and fructosamine (p = 0.004). Fetal insulin levels were not significantly different. Before subsequent transfusion, despite correction of anemia, Rh fetuses were clearly hyperinsulinemic even after correction for gestation (p = 0.002) and had low glucagon concentrations (p = 0.01) when compared with values at the first transfusion. This metabolic milieu appears similar to that of fetuses of diabetic mothers which have increased plasma glucose and insulin during most of the last third of gestation.

Blood Glucose↗